Connector with locking device



March 3l, 1953 D. R. DE TAR CONNECTOR WITH LOCKING DEVICE Filed June 3, 1949 INVILNTOR. DONALD A, DETAR BY f Patented Mar. .31, 1953 mesne assignments, to Winchester Electronics, Incorporated, Glenbrook, 001111;, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 3, 1949, Serial No. 96,987

1 Claim (Cl. 173 328) This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to the locking device therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector having an insulating part adapted for attachment to a panel wherein the locking nut for the attachment of the part serves for the connection and fixing of a locking ring upon the panel and adapted to receive a locking ring which is made a part of the locking device and fixed to the insulating member adapted to be connected with the insulating member on the panel whereby to connect the male and female contacts of the insulating parts together and wherein the cap adapted to be secured to the insulating member or part serves for the connection of the locking ring upon that part and whereby utilization is made of parts adapted to be connected to the insulating parts for the securement of the locking rings and wherein special means for fixing the locking devices upon the insulating parts are unnecessary.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a locking arrangement for electrical connectors of a type adapted to be connected to a panel board, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, easy to secure upon a panel, and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the followin detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical connector and locking arrangement embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view which has been enlarged of the connector coupled with the panel and as viewed on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the part which is fixed to the panel.

Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of the sprin clip used for the connection of the contacts with the insulating parts.

Referring now to the figures, Ill represents an insulating member having a head portion l I and a threaded portion 12 adapted to receive a lockingnut i3 for the securement of the insulating member Hi to a panel M. The insulating member ID has a plurality of openings 85 therethrough spaced from one another and containing female contact elements 13. The openings 55 are shouldered at ii to be engaged by shoulder l8 of the contact element It. Each contact element It has an opening l9 in an external portion of the contact element for receiving a cable wire to be secured thereto. The contact element It has a mtale contact receiving portion 2| which is slit a 22.

A lockingri'ng 23 has diametrically spaced locking portions 24 and upon the insulating member [B being connected to the panel I4, this locking ring 23 will be locked upon the panel face against angular displacement relative to the insulating member m. Accordingly, no special part is required for the fixing of this locking ring upon the insulating part II]. To, positively prevent rotation of the locking ring, an inwardly extending projection 25 extends in the opposite direction from the projection 24 'a'nd' is adapted to enter an opening on the panel face It. The projection 24 is outwardly bent to receive projections 21 of a complementary locking rin 23 which are inwardly bent and secured to an insulating member 29 having an externally threaded portion 3: to which is attached a cover sleeve 32 which bears against the locking ring 28 to secure the same upon the insulating member 29. The cover 32 will be adjusted to a tight position once the ring 28 has been rotated to match projections 21 with the projections 24 of the ring 23 fixed by the head portion I I of the insulating member ID.

The head portion I l is of hexagonal shape and the projections 24 lie fiusli with parallel side faces of the hexagonal head I I whereby relative turning movement of the ring 23 upon the insulating member I0 is prevented. The female contact elements I6 are held in place in the insulating member by spring clips 33, Fig. 4, which slide into groove 34 on the contact elements. These spring clips are of U-shape and having an opening receiving the contact element and rounded portions 35 adapted to frictionally retain the spring clip against outward displacement once fitted within the groove 34 of the contact element 16.

Within the insulating member 29 are a plurality of openings 31 containing male contact elements 38 having a contact engaging projecting portion 39 adapted to enter the portions 2| of the female contact 16. These male contact elements are shouldered at 4| to engage shoulder portions 42 within the openings 31 of the insulating member 29. Spring clips 33 are used to fix the male elements 38 to the insulating member. These elements have cable connecting portions 43. Once the cable Wires have been connected to these portions 43, the sleeve cover can be adjusted onto the threaded portion 3| of the insulating member 29 to cover the cable wires and likewise to tightly fix the ring 28 against displacement relative to the insulating member. The sleeve cover 32 finally secures the locking ring 28 against angular displacement relative to the insulating member 29.

The sleeve cover 32 has a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel bosses 45 to provide a good gripping surface to make secure the sleeve cover upon the same being turned with the thumb and fingers of the hand.

It should be apparent that there has been provided a connector arrangement adapted for attachment to a panel wherein utilization is made of the insulating and locking nut parts for the securement of the locking rings against displacement, wherein the locking ring itself has its projections so spaced as to be retained against turning action by engagement with parallel sides of hexagonal portion of the insulating member and wherein the locking ring upon the second insulat ing member engageable with the first insulating member is permitted to rotate into engagement with the locking ring projections on the first insulating member and wherein the sleeve cover for the cables of the second insulating member serve to finally lock the locking ring on the second insulating member or part as well as to cover the cables.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope or the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An electrical connector comprising an insulate ing member having a head portion with fiat side faces, contact elements secured within the insulating member, a locking ring surroundin the insulating member and having longitudinally extending fiat projections engaging respectively with the fiat side faces of said head portion whereby to retain the locking ring against rota- 4 tion about the insulating member, said insulating member having a threaded portion, a locking nut on the threaded portion securing said insulating member in an opening in a panel, the locking ring in engagement with a face of the panel, and the aforesaid fiat projections in engagement with the fiat faces, whereby to hold the locking ring against axial displacement upon the'insulating member, a second insulating member having corresponding contact elements matching the contact elements of the first mentioned insulating member, a second 10cking ring surrounding the second insulating member and having projections engaging the projections of the first-mentioned locking ring, and means securing said second locking ring to said second insulating member in a releasable manner to permit the angular adjustment of the second locking ring for engagement and disengagement of the projections thereon with the projections of the first mentioned locking ring.

DONALD R. DE TAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'- UNITED STATES PATENTS 

